Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 This is great news Cheryl! I am very happy for you! I am going to find out what my MIL's was last year! Re: Re: my husband Sorry, Barb - the MMSE is the Mini-Mental Status Exam. It tests several aspects of cognition to assess how much decline there has been. Day of the week, who's the President, etc. The highest score is 30. Bob's original 22 came up to 23 after he started the Aricept and with exception of one drop to 22, has remained at 23 over the past 3 1/2 yrs. I'm really counting my blessings. Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 In a message dated 9/11/02 8:12:51 PM Central Daylight Time, bhardy@... writes: > we are starting him on 5mg Aricept tonight, Dr. said may take a few weeks > before we see if it is working. Barb, it takes THREE MONTHS for Aricept to kick in!!! It was because neuro #2 wanted an answer at 2 months (no change from Bob or me) that he said to double it. Well, that led to MAJOR problems - anxiety, weight loss, agitation, etc. [[[OH GOD, A MARVELOUS VOCALIST is singing " When you walk through a storm, Hold your head up high " in memoriam of 9/11. I am struck by how much it means to me as a caregiver. " Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart (not much really) . . . . [but] you'll never walk alone. " Thanks to everyone here.]]] Within weeks Bob was SO bad that when I couldn't access any of the doctors I just pulled back to his former dose and he improved immediately - after a 22 hr nap! When I talked to the researching Cog Neuro at Hopkins he politely peeled himself off the ceiling and said, " You NEVER increase Aricept before 3 months because it takes that long for it to take effect!!! " We stuck with him and I couldn't be sadder that he moved on. Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 >Sorry, Barb - the MMSE is the Mini-Mental Status Exam. It tests >several aspects of cognition to assess how much decline there has >been. Day of the week, who's the President, etc. Thanks Cheryl, several of the Dr's here have asked Bill questions like that at differant times here but I don't know that they gave any ratings on them, I will find out. At 1:30 this morning Bill was up, fully dressed, standing at the bedroom door with a KNIFE! He was protecting himself from the men in the frontroom...we are starting him on 5mg Aricept tonight, Dr. said may take a few weeks before we see if it is working. So glad I have heard so much good from you Cheryl about this drug, hopefully it will work as well for Bill. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 Thank you so very much for the update on . You said she just passed Spain...what an adventure. Please tell her hello!! Also, let us know if she is able to receive emails. Thank you!! :-)) Sandie Des Moines, IA PS - Were you affected by any of the recent tornado weather. Heard on our local news parts of Minnesota had some severe weather. Hope all is well with you and your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 Cheryl The MMSE score is truly positive. I am so very happy for you and Bob especially that he has been able to stay at that score for so long. My heart is smiling for you! :-)) Sandie Des Moines, IA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 >Barb, it takes THREE MONTHS for Aricept to kick in!!! It was >because neuro #2 wanted an answer at 2 months (no change from Bob or >me) that he said to double it. Well, that led to MAJOR problems - >anxiety, weight loss, agitation, etc. Thank you again Cheryl, I did look it up in my drug book and in there in states unknown under onset of effect. Was there any thing you could do while waiting for the drug to kick in, I don't know if he is going to be able to go on like this? Walk on in the storm is one of my favorite songs and I can not listen to it without tears...liked your anology. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 Hi Sandie. I will tell her you said hello! She will like that! She can't get the postings so I have been forwarding them to her email on the ship. If you like, I would be happy to pass any email you would like to send on to her. The tornado that went through Albertville is only 2.5 miles from my home! It caused a lot of damage but thankfully, no one was hurt. We suffered no damages and are very thankful for that. Thanks for asking! Take care, RE: my husband Thank you so very much for the update on . You said she just passed Spain...what an adventure. Please tell her hello!! Also, let us know if she is able to receive emails. Thank you!! :-)) Sandie Des Moines, IA PS - Were you affected by any of the recent tornado weather. Heard on our local news parts of Minnesota had some severe weather. Hope all is well with you and your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 So very glad no one was hurt by the recent tornado through Minnesota. Of course it is so much easier to rebuild and pick up debree as opposed to a hospital stay. Sounds like all were very fortunate. Thanks for the update. Also, I have 's personal email and have written to her personally. Is this the way you are forwarding info. on to her through her personal email address on the ship? If so, I may have already contacted her. Thank you! Sandie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 Sandie, She has two email accounts. One is at home (the at & t account), and the other is the Navy address which is on the ship (the Nassau account). If you have the Nassau account, then she is sure to receive the mail! RE: my husband So very glad no one was hurt by the recent tornado through Minnesota. Of course it is so much easier to rebuild and pick up debree as opposed to a hospital stay. Sounds like all were very fortunate. Thanks for the update. Also, I have 's personal email and have written to her personally. Is this the way you are forwarding info. on to her through her personal email address on the ship? If so, I may have already contacted her. Thank you! Sandie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 Yes, I just checked and I have the Nassau account. This has just made my heart skip a beat as I am so excited that I am able to keep in touch with her. Thanks for replying so quickly. Hoping you are enjoying your day...the Iowa weather today is beautiful and such a wonderful gift. Sandie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 Sandie, Sometimes it takes a while for her to reply. Depends if the servers are delivering mail timely and then also on how much time she has left to check them! Weather here is great too! Sounds like cooler nights though! Take care, RE: my husband Yes, I just checked and I have the Nassau account. This has just made my heart skip a beat as I am so excited that I am able to keep in touch with her. Thanks for replying so quickly. Hoping you are enjoying your day...the Iowa weather today is beautiful and such a wonderful gift. Sandie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 In a message dated 9/12/02 3:09:41 AM Central Daylight Time, bhardy@... writes: > Was there any thing you could do while waiting for the drug to kick in, I > don't know if he is going to be able to go on like this? Barb, there really wasn't much we could do while waiting, which wasn't too hard, as I think Bob was diagnosed at an earlier stage than Bill and we started the Aricept immediately. Good to know the knives have been moved - what a scary scene!! Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 In a message dated 9/12/02 3:09:41 AM Central Daylight Time, bhardy@... writes: > Was there any thing you could do while waiting for the drug to kick in, I > don't know if he is going to be able to go on like this? Barb, there really wasn't much we could do while waiting, which wasn't too hard, as I think Bob was diagnosed at an earlier stage than Bill and we started the Aricept immediately. Good to know the knives have been moved - what a scary scene!! Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 Barb, Bob has responded very, very well to 15mg Remeron (aka Mirtazipine) at bedtime. Eve's Joe also did well with it (she's the one that put me on to the med). Now WE sleep, even in the same room/bed again. It has made an incredible difference. Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 >Barb, there really wasn't much we could do while waiting, which >wasn't too hard, as I think Bob was diagnosed at an earlier stage >than Bill and we started the Aricept immediately. Thanks Cheryl the more we think about it the kids and I think he started showing signs as long as 5 or more years ago, it wasn't untill the hallucinations started that I realized that this wasn't just old age. We see his doctor next week and will talk about something to help him sleep, the ativan doesn't seem to get him more than a few hours at a time and he definatly does better when he has had a good nights sleep as most of you have pointed out with your LO's. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 13, 2002 Report Share Posted September 13, 2002 >Now WE sleep, even in the same >room/bed again. It has made an >incredible difference. Thanks again Cheryl, I have printed this information out and will talk to the GP about it next week. Would love to go back to the same bed and room with him but on the 4 nights that I am on call I am up and down with my client, that was the main reason we went to seperate rooms, and I found that I really like it because I can leave my window wide open and not freeze him out. Meant to ask how often will you be seeing your new nerologist? How about the rest of you, how often do you see the specialist's. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2002 Report Share Posted September 19, 2002 ebelle, so sorry to hear about your husband. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay in tune with this site. My dad is newly diagnosed and these people here help me through my toughest times. Welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2002 Report Share Posted September 19, 2002 Barb, I am behind in my reading, I hope everything has worked out for you . You are in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2002 Report Share Posted September 20, 2002 >Barb, I am behind in my reading, I hope everything has worked out >for you . You are in my prayers. Thank you , last night Bill slept real good (yea) for the first time in a few weeks. What a differance it has made, his sense of humour is back. He was watching that ad on TV for those early learning books for kids and said maybe he sould get some of those, I told him that I know what to get him for Christmas now. LOL, you are also in my prayers. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2002 Report Share Posted September 22, 2002 haha! I am glad he is well and his sense of humor has returned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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